73
PAHOA, Hawaii >> A breakout of lava heading toward Pahoa’s main highway advanced 70 yards on Sunday.
Hawaii County Civil Defense reports the original flow front remains stalled while the new breakout has moved 0.4 miles from the area of Highway 130 west of the Pahoa police and fire stations.
Meanwhile, two other breakouts along the north margin of the flow, approximately a mile to a mile and a half further upslope, remain active as well but are moving sluggishly.
These breakouts are in a drainage area leading to a steepest-descent path that crosses Highway 130 about 0.6 miles south of the Maku’u Farmer’s Market.
Smoke conditions were moderate with a light northeast wind blowing the smoke in a southwest direction.
A light rain was occurring in the lower Puna area and is expected to help with fire and smoke conditions, Civil Defense reports.
Multiple brushfires caused by the lava flow broke out earlier this week burning hundreds of acres of vegetation. Those fires have since been contained, Civil Defense said.
